Rest In Peace (sequel to After They Died)

2- Ellie

Typing codes into my computer frantically, I search for hours on end for any trace of who kidnapped Rachel.

I can't say that she was like my better half.

I can't say that she has always meant the world to me.

But deep down, I have always loved my twin.

I've felt so responsible for her death that I have spent hours trawling the internet for any hidden clues. Claire told me that dwelling on the past is bad for me: I don't care.

I was given her phone as her next of kin. Yesterday I went to the school lab, pulled on some latex gloves and searched for fingerprints other than hers. There were many.

The most suspicious fingerprint was one belonging to a man in his late thirties. Robert Clide. However, he was an ordinary man with a wife and two kids. He was a successful business man and would have no apparent reason for kidnapping Rachel.

But the photos of him on google match his rough height and build. There is every possibility that it was him. But why? That is what I'm trying to find out.

After hours of searching his name on social media platforms and countless websites, I find his email address which was surprisingly difficult to find. Maybe he has something to hide. Or maybe he simply likes to keep his quiet life private.

The trick to catching him out is to pretend to be in a similar situation to Rachel, innocent and unknowing. I type out an email to him:

Hey I am sorry to bother you, but my school is doing a project on successful businessmen/ businesswomen and I was hoping to interview you on behalf of your rather successful company.

Now I just have to wait. Impatiently, I refresh the page again and again before I find a reply.

I don't know how you got this email address, but please stop messaging me I am not interested in helping you with some school project.

Oh, I'm so sorry, thanks for letting me know. It's just that my friend Rachel knew you and said that you would be perfect to interview.

You knew Rachel? What has she told you?

Everything.

I don't really know anything but he doesn't know that.

Meet me at the train station tonight at 9:00. Don't be late.

Ok see you then :)

I'm going to meet him! I'm finally getting somewhere with this.

Hurriedly, I stuff a voice recorder, a torch, my portable phone charger and some pepper spray into my bag. This has to work. It has to.

I rush to the station without bothering to ask Claire for permission. It begins to rain and water gets in my eyes, blurring my vision temporarily. I shiver, pulling my hood up on my jumper as I stumble onwards.

I arrive at the train station at just before nine and he's waiting.

He looks capable. Not muscular, but toned. Not aggressive, but not exactly a warm hearted person.

Seeing me, he rushes over before hissing in my ear "Come with me." He has a smooth Scottish drawl which some may find enchanting and mesmerising. I find it irritating.

Still, I follow him until he gets onto a train.
"No chance," I laugh, "I'm not stupid." He smiles a lazy smile, almost smirking at me, like I'm hilarious.
"Suit yourself, you contacted me first, remember."
I sigh and step onto the old, metal machine.

This had better not be a mistake.